BAJAN SUN
Bajan Sun Magazine
AUG 2014
FEATURED
BARTENDER
Debra Sharon Stoute nee Bannister was born and bred in Goodland, St.
Michael. She was exposed to hard work from an early age through her
maternal grandparents and more specifically her paternal grandfather.
Both maternal grandparents were actively involved in agriculture and
paternal grandfather being a pastry chef, which as she states exposed her
to sectors of the Hospitality Industry.
Her grandfather was a jack of all trades and a master of none. But, more
interestingly he was a drinker. As she exclaims, after a hard day's work he
would take a break with some of his colleagues (who were also involved in
agriculture) to 'fire a rum' and slam a domino. Exposed to a bit of the rum
shop culture from at home, she had no idea that being privy to this daily
ritual would have been the first spark to her later interest in the idea of
mixing drinks.
You see, she was never interested in becoming a bartender. Her interest
was to become a pastry chef like her father and grandfather. Her
exposure to bartending was just by chance. It was sometime back in
1991/92 when a childhood friend of hers was visiting from the States and
invited her out to the After Dark bar, that the interest in bartending was
sparked. From assisting in gathering bottles that night to landing a job at
the same bar, Debra’s introduction